Northwestern State University graduate Rhett Crosby will portray the character “Cicero” in the upcoming feature-length film ‘Hello Are you There?’, which is currently in pre-production.

The fantasy drama, set for a theatrical premiere later this summer, will be the Crosby’s fifth starring role with the production group He Said She Said Productions.

An alumnus of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity at Northwestern State University, Crosby is a sales executive for First Health Network, one of the nation’s largest PPO networks. However, he’s also found success over the last two decades as an actor in dozens of theatre performances and in independent and major motion films. He’s also landed roles as acting and voice talent in local and national television ads for Disney, Toyota, Camping World, Subaru, Honda, and AAA.

“Around four years ago I turned almost my full attention to Independent films. In doing so I connected with a fantastic production company called ‘He Said She Said Productions.’ In meeting with the lead producer for an audition he told me that they loved my experience, resume, personality and the fact that I do dozens or characters and voices. In fact, so much that they’ve written two scripts for me.”

Crosby, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, grew up in East Texas, where he lettered in football, basketball and track at Quitman High School. He set a Texas high school football record for most tackles (37) in a single game, in addition to earning the defensive honors of All East Texas and MVP.

Quitman is also where he discovered his passion for acting.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but I received 3 other awards my senior year that I still cherish this day; The Art Award from my art teacher Judy McCarley Majewski, Most Likely to succeed vote from the student body, and the Robert Spacek Scholarship from actress Sissy Spacek, who is from Quitman and is a huge inspiration to me as well!”

After high school, Crosby attended college at Northwestern State University on a full athletic scholarship, where he and teammates won back-to-back Southland Conference football championships in 1997 and 1998. While pursuing his degree in Journalism, he also started a minor in theatre.

“I loved acting and have always had a passion for the arts. I got this from my mother, Peggy Crosby, who is an award-winning professional artist, and that had me around the arts since I was a child. Also, I knew that my father Jack Crosby had done some modeling, film work, and national singing competitions in his young adulthood as well.”

Before graduating in 1999, he was introduced to the world of business and communications through an internship with Clear Channel radio station 92.5 KZPS in Dallas.

“My first taste of Hollywood was on a Disney Film, called The Rookie with Dennis Quaid and that was directed by John Lee Hancock, who is from Longview. He’s known for many other great films like The Founder, The Blind Side, and Alamo.”

This journey is coming full-circle for Crosby, who says his career is blossoming. He will be filming “Hello, Are You There?” in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas this Spring. Crosby’s performances in several He Said She Said films have won an award or were nominated at festivals around the country, including at the 2015 Great Lakes Film Festival, 2015 Trail Dance, 2016 Phoenix Comicon, 2017 Utah Film Awards, 2017 Hollywood Screenings Festival, 2017 Los Angeles CeniFest, and the 2018 Pictures Screening Series Film Festival in North Carolina.

Michael Jason Allen, director/producer of He Said She Said Productions, said Crosby has been a key player in five of the company’s six major projects.

“His ability to become so many varying characters, as well as his on-set professionalism and working manner, prompts us to invite him into our films time and time again. He is the only actor we actually write roles specifically for. He will always come prepared and hit a home run of a performance. His depth goes way beyond playing the typical ‘big guy’ roles. He’s a great period film actor and that’s a rare quality in today’s indie cinema scene.”

In recent months, several of the productions have been picked up for international distribution and are available for purchase on DVD and through video on demand and streaming services.

He has dozens of script ideas and says he would eventually love to film in Texas and Louisiana.

A professed Christian, Crosby aims to break into family or faith-based films, though he says he believes that God will use him no matter where he is on his journey. He says he has always found inspiration from the scripture Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”